Washington, D.C. — July 23, 2026: U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that a proposed civilian nuclear cooperation agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia will only move forward if the Kingdom agrees to join the Abraham Accords and normalize diplomatic relations with Israel.
Speaking at the White House, Trump said the nuclear partnership is intended to help Saudi Arabia develop a peaceful civilian nuclear energy program while strengthening regional stability. He stressed that the agreement would not support the development of nuclear weapons and would include safeguards designed to ensure the program remains exclusively for civilian use.
The proposed agreement is part of a broader U.S. strategy to expand the Abraham Accords, the U.S.-brokered normalization framework between Israel and Arab nations. Trump argued that Saudi Arabia’s participation would mark a historic diplomatic breakthrough and contribute to long-term peace and security in the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia has not officially responded to Trump’s latest condition. Riyadh has repeatedly stated that it supports regional peace but maintains that any normalization with Israel depends on meaningful progress toward the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
The proposed 30-year civilian nuclear agreement is also expected to undergo review by the U.S. Congress. Lawmakers and nuclear non-proliferation experts have raised concerns about oversight, verification measures, and ensuring that Saudi Arabia’s nuclear program cannot be diverted for military purposes.
If finalized, the agreement could deepen U.S.-Saudi strategic cooperation while reshaping the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East, making Saudi Arabia’s decision on the Abraham Accords a key factor in the future of the landmark nuclear deal.
